Nut-lock



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NUT LOUK. No. 297,681. Patented Apr. 29, 1884;

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NUTLOGK. No. 297,681. Patented Ap1 -.29-,'1884.

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LEVIS H. DAVIS, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIL- MIN GTON MALLEABLE IRON COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,681, dated April 29, 1884-.

I Application filed February 1, 1884. {No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVIS H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of West Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut- Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of the invention as applied at the junction'of the ends of two railway-rails, the button having passed into the opening in the locking-plate preparatory to being rotated to a transverse position. Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1 with the side button turned to its transverse or locking position. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a longitudinalsection, as on line a b, Fig. 1, with the button in the position of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spring bearing-plate and connected button detached. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the button and part of said plate to which the button is attached. Fig. 6 is a section on line 0 d, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a like sec- 2 5 tion with the button at the limit of its transverse position. Fig. 8, Sheet 1, is a plan of the locking-plate inverted. Fig. 9, Sheet 2, illustrates a modification of the form of the end of the spring-bearing plate.

0 The same letters of reference where they occur indicate the same parts.

This invention is a modification of the nutlock described in my Letters Patent of the United States No. 266,780, bearing date October 31, 1882; and the object is to improve and simplify the same without affecting the essential principles of its operation. As in the device which is the subject of the said Letters Patent, I make use in the present invention of a bearing-plate, a locking-plate, and a rotatable button connecting these plates; but the said elements are differently constructed, respectively, and are arranged in a different relation than as heretofore.

5 Referring to the annexed drawings, A A are the abutting ends of two ordinary railwayrails; B, the fish'plate of a well-known form; C, the through-bolts, and D the nuts thereon.

E is the spring-bearing plate, made, prefer- 5o ably, of rectangular bar steel of suitable strength and elasticity,and shaped as shownthat is to say, bent around at each end so as to form loops or holes 0 for the reception of the through-bolts, and arched outwardly at and nearthe middle, as seen clearly in Fig. 3, so as to provide sufficient space between it and the fish-p1ate, (or the web of the rails, in case a fish-plate is not used,) for the intervening part of the T-button F, as hereinafter explained. This button has alateral slot, f, of

the shape seen in Figs. 3 to 7-, inclusive-that is, leaving angular parts h, whose respective sides, abutting against those of the bearingplate E, stop the button from being rotated beyond a quarter-turn, as and for the objects hereinaftermentioned. Althoughlsometimes cut entirely away one angle or side of the said slot, and thus make the button detachable from the bearing-plate, I prefer the construction shown, in which'latter case the metal bar 0 is inserted in said slot f before its ends are bent to form the openings 0 for the bolts, and. thus the button is permanently connected to the bearing-plate.

L marks the looking or cam plate, of castiron or other suitable material, which, in conjunction with the peculiarly-constructed button F, serves to keep taut the spring bearingplate when the parts are in final position, so that the elastic bearing-plate will continually hold the nuts D under stress. This lockingplate is hollowed out or slotted longitudinally on its under side, as shown in' Fig. 8, so that it may span the arched bearing-plate and allow its inner face to bear against the side of the fish-plate, yet leaving sufficient space for the outward spring or movement of the bearing-plate. The length of plate L is .about equal, and within the distance between the opposite sides of the two nuts, respectively, when the latter are at right angles to the major axis of the lock-plate, whereby, when the plate is in position, the bolts are prevented from turning. I sometimes also make a rectangular indentation, V, in each end of this 5 plate to receive the corners of the nuts when the latter are turned diagonally. It will be obvious that by the described construction the nuts are as effectually secured from being turned in the one position as in the other. In

the Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the nut at the left occupies the first position referred to, that'at the right the second position. The locking-plate has a central opening, an, therein, with side extensions, )2, adapted to receive the button and its cross-bar G, similar to that of my pre vious patented device,said bar passing through the side extensions, when in the right position 5 with relation to the plate, far enough so that the under sides of the portions of the bar that project beyond the circular part of the button extend a short distance above the extreme ends or outer edges of the said side extensions of the locking-plate. The face of the latter is provided with inclinations or cams 12, extending from the ends of the slot n up to a transverse groove or depression, 1-, across the summit of the plate, the bottom of which I 5 groove is always higher than the ends of said slot or the lowest point of said cam-faces. Although it is not essential to have these in clinations on both sides of the groove 1-, I prefer the latter construction, as it adds no additional cost, and the plate may be turned end about indiiferently.

Having now described the construction of the several parts or elements of theinvention, I shall proceed to explain their function and operation.

*. The bolts having been passed through the holes provided for the purpose in the abutting ends of the rails and those of the fishplate and of the bearing-plate, the nuts are 0 then screwed onto the ends of the bolts and tightened firmly up, clamping the intervening parts of the bearing-plate between them and the fish-plate. The button is now turned so as to bring its cross-bar G in line with the 5 bearing-plate, or, in effect, in line with the slot a, as in Fig. 1. The locking-plate is then in serted in place--the nuts having been previously turned in either of the positions shownand a wrench is applied to the cross-bar of the button, and the latter is thereby rotated (the extensions of the cross-bar bearing upon the inclined faces of the locking-plate) a quarter-turn against the stress of the elastic bearing-plate until it (the cross-bar) drops into the transverse groove 1". It will of course be understood that the elevation of this groove is such that when the said bar rests therein the bearing plate is always retained under a strain, thereby applying a continual pressure against the nuts D, that takes up any wear and tear to which they may be subjected, and it will be impossible for the nuts to be turned without first releasing and removing the locking-plate.

The transverse groove 0 may be omitted and the plate be provided with a flat space in lieu thereof; but it is preferred to retain the groove so as more effectually to secure the button against displacement.

Instead of making the ends of the bearingplate flat or even, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I purpose also making the same as shown in Fig. 9--that is to say, turned up above the plane of the adjacent part of the plate, so as to secure an additional elastic stress upon the nuts when the latter are screwed up.

I have herein described and shown my invention as applied in connection with railwayrails. It will, however, serve the purpose designed equally well in numerous other instances wherein it is desirable to have a device for keeping the nuts of bolts firmly and securely in place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent 1. The nut-lock and take-up consisting of the spring bearing-plate, the T-head button, and the locking-plate, when constructed, combined, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of the arched spring bearing-plate, the rotatable button having a slot therein to receive the arched portion of said plate, and the projecting crossbar, together with the locking-plate recessed on its underside to receive and allow play of the bearing-plate, and having an opening therein with side extensions thereof adapted for the reception of the said button and its cross-bar, and having also inclinations extending up from the extremities of said side extensions of the opening in the plate, all constructed and adapted to operate together substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the bearing plate and the camlocking plate having the described opening therein, the T-head button provided with means, substantially as shown, for limiting the rotation of said button, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

a. The combination of the slotted button and the arched spring bearing-plate passed through the slot in said but-ton, and having its ends bent around to form bolt-holes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the rails and fishplates or other structures bolted together, the bolts, their nuts, the arched elastic bearingplate having openings for the passage of the bolts, and the rotatable button connected to the bearing-plate substantially in the manner shown, and provided with the projecting crossbar, together with the correspondingly recessed and perforated locking-plate having its ends adapted to abut against or in close proximity to the nuts, said locking-plate being also provided with upwardly-inclined faces communicating with a transverse groove, upon which faces the under sides of the projecting parts of the cross-bar of the button bear against the stress of the spring bearing-plate when the said button is turned, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereofI haveherennto affixed my signature this 1st day of January, A. D. 1884..

LEVIS H. DAVIS. 

